A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.



From the moment that he woke up, Tarhuinn had hoped that it had been some terrible dream and that his wife wasn't off to that supposed mage's cabin. His dark blue eyes had searched the pixie home for her, believing that she would appear if he had stared long enough. The icy bonds around his wrists and feet weren't really there. They were just fragments of his imagination. (F/n) was nearby him somewhere. She hadn't broken her agreement with him.



All that had happened was that he had grown tired and passed out. His waking up eyes just hadn't noticed her yet. He had sat up straighter and had put his feet more into the thin stream. The royals, on their thrones, had stared down at him while the other pixies had seemed armed to the ready. It was then that his mind had realized the truth. She really had left him behind; she had ordered the royals to stop him.



Pain had erupted in his chest. He had brought his head to his bound hands. His mind couldn't take it, for his wife was off to some perverted, murderous and cannibalistic mage. Tarhuinn had begun to tremble while his fingers had grasped for his hair. She couldn't go there; she wouldn't travel there.



He had needed her to come back to him; he had needed to restrict her movements. Bonds should have been placed on her, not him. Having known this, he had resorted to that method; he had turned his charming call into something from one's nightmares. It was as though he had called upon the dead for service and had sent a reaper to claim her back.



This call had been so powerful, so terrifying that it rang beyond just a connection between him and her. His lips had parted, but her name had never been heard by the pixies. All they had listened to was the unearthly wail of the male. They had all covered their ears and had used frost to help protect them from the deafening sound.



When the awful sound had finished, Tarhuinn had been at a loss of breath, and tears had been streaming down his face. He had never wished to use that against her; he had never thought that such a case would arise where he would need it. The effect of it on her was known to him, but he couldn't have her running off to danger like that.



Now, he had his knees to his chest and his forehead resting on them. All he desired was to have her back in his arms and to murder the pixies that had placed the horrid idea into her mind. The idea of that mage putting his filthy hands on her made his blood boil. His fingers twitched a little as they itched to wrap themselves around the mage's neck. Both the mage and the pixies needed to die.



Hopefully, though, (f/n) would come back to him and not head to that cabin. She would realize her mistake; she would break his bonds and let him dispatch as many of the pixies that he could. His body pulled itself closer together while his toes curled in the small stream. Despite his optimistic wishes, he could feel tears still run down his cheeks. "(F/n), I want you back so much. Please, come back to me now. Please..." he whispered to himself countless times.



The pixies around him merely watched. They kept their distance, understanding that his current display would transform into pure murderous rage if they were to get too close. Both royals planned, though, that if he tried to release that cry again, they would freeze his mouth over. It would prevent them from hearing it. Unfortunately, the luxury wouldn't be extended to (f/n).



t wasn't until one of the scouts came plowing into the pixie home. Nearly, they ran into the stone pillar. They bowed to their king and queen, explaining the situation. Tarhuinn peeked up from his position. A small smile formed on his lips. For now, he had stalled her from reaching the cabin. When she awoke, she would hopefully make the right decision and come back to him.



Even with this news, however, he wished to be beside her. He should be there, holding her in his embrace. His lips should be administering delicate and sometimes rough kisses to her luxurious skin. Tarhuinn glanced to the extra cloak wrapped around his shoulders. This should be with her. It should be protecting her from the cold. They both needed to be there with her.



Once the scout finished and took off, the royals peered down to him. He returned their gaze with a murderous one. The king and queen now understood that he would have to be knocked out should he try to call out to her again. It would interfere with her mission and reduce their chances of getting a mage on their side. Both royals broke their gaze with their captive before they returned to other business. Tarhuinn looked back to his knees. His hands clenched as he continued his whisperings.



~~~~~~~~~~



Her hands moved a little. She felt somewhat wet ground beneath her, and her clothes still weren't dry. A few droplets of rain fell upon her. Blinking her eyes opened, she found herself where she had been eating. The sky was dark as she could barely see around her.



Noting that she was awake, the scouts instantly turned to her and breathed a collective sigh of relief. They ushered her to get up as they wanted to return home before it became later in the night. She, however, couldn't just burst to her feet. Her body was sore from the previous torment placed on it. (F/n) positioned herself on her knees and hands. Slowly, she made her ascent.



Finally, getting to her feet, her legs were unsteady. She almost fell back to the ground if it weren't for the pixies coming to her rescue. They held up her arms to the best of their abilities until she could regain some proper balance. When she felt that she was able to walk, she thanked them and signaled that they could let go. "Let's head to the cabin."



As they walked onward, somewhat steadily, she finished her meal from earlier. It sated her hunger for the time being and gave some of her energy back. Eventually, however, they were close to the lake. Just barely could she spot the smoke rising from the cabin's chimney. The pixies wouldn't go further. Frankly, she didn't wish to either.



Summoning her courage, she pulled out her dagger from her boot and unsheathed it. The pixies looked to her questioningly, but she assured them that it was to make her narrative more believable. Before she dealt some of the blows, she tore her clothes up some. Once they looked untidy enough, she inhaled deeply and drew the blade across her arms and legs a couple of times. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, but she reminded herself that this pain was nothing in comparison to Tarhuinn's calling for her. She bit her bottom lip until she was completed with the task.



(F/n) wiped the dagger clean on the snow covered ground. She kicked the snow until the red was buried beneath much more snow. Satisfied with her work, she sheathed the dagger and placed it back on the outer side of her right boot. Taking a few steps forward, she glanced back to the pixies. They hovered in the air but offered no encouragement; they merely waited for her to enter the cabin. From there, it was entirely on her. So, she faced the cabin once more.



Every step sounded in her ears. There was less snow now, but its crunching under her boots still gave away her position. Trees were somewhat barren by the cabin, giving her little place to hide. Of course, she wasn't expected to keep herself from the eyes of the mage.



Getting closer, her hands tightened. She prepared her story in her mind. Her demeanor would have to change somewhat, but her fear, for once, would do her good. With her heart thumping louder in her chest, she stood several more steps from the back of the cabin. There were no windows there luckily, but it meant a harder escape. Not that she could run away, though, if he were really a mage.



One deep inhale and exhale later, she was off. She ran the rest of the distance, falling at one point on purpose. Exposed tree branches scraped across her. Some of her cuts were rubbed against, causing a cry to emit itself from her lips. Good, she wanted to be heard. (F/n) picked herself up and peered over her left shoulder as though she was being pursued. In doing so, she noted that the pixies were distancing themselves farther from cabin.



Movement could be heard inside the cabin. She swallowed back her desire to run off in the opposite direction. Continuing to go forward, she raced to the wooden door. Firelight illuminated the inside of the home and showed her a brief view of the contents as she raced by the window. (F/n) brought her hands quickly to the doorknob and attempted to open the door. It being locked caused her to raise her right fist.



Banging on the wood, she called out for help and for the person inside to open up. "Please, he's after me! Let me in! I need help!" she cried out in hysteria. In the back of her mind, she hoped that Tarhuinn would never learn of the story that would leave her lips that evening. She knew that it would send him even more into a raging frenzy.



Door opening slowly, she darted forward. She was stopped by a solid wall as her hands reached up. (F/n) clutched at the green fabric of the male's shirt. Her head buried itself into his chest. "Please, help! He's after me; he's going to kill me!" she cried out more while her voice was muffled by his shirt.



Sobs escaped her lips soon after. Tears accompanied in tow. They stained both her skin and his shirt. Arms slowly wrapped themselves around her. A smooth voice, which reminded her of a soft, fleece blanket, spoke, "It's alright. No one is going to harm you. Let's bring you in from the cold night."